DNMT3A and neoplasm: miR-143 has also been demonstrated to have an anti-tumour effect in leukaemia patients, where significantly lower miR-143 levels were observed in patients when compared to healthy controls, and the overexpression of miR-143 decreased DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) mRNA and protein expression, thereby reducing cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell cycle progression, as well as increased apoptosis [50].